Leg aligner



F. E. ARRIGO LEG ALIGNER Filed March 29, 1965 Im ll vih IIIIl..

United States Patent O 3,203,416 LEG ALIGNER Frank E. Arrigo, 141 AyersCourt, West Englewood, Nd. Filed Mar. 29, 1963, Ser. No. 269,192 6Claims. (Cl. 12S-36) This invention relates to a device for holding inproper alignment a leg of a patient. More particularly it relates to adevice to be used on a bed and which by restricting the movement of apatients leg and particularly the ankle and knee, maintains the leg in`a normal posture. The device is reversible in that by merely turning itover it may be adapted for use on either' the right or left leg of apatient.

In cases in which a patient has less than full muscular control over hisleg, e.g. patients suffering from strokes, cerebral-vascular accidents,brain damage, hip fractures, ctc., it has long been a problem to preventatrophy of the muscles of the patients leg. In such cases, the leg maysutfer permanent damage resulting from external rotation at the hipjoint, knee tlexion contracture, knee rotation and/ or tightening of theAchilles tendon. Such damage may be prevented by artiicially supportingthe leg in a normal posture. If such treatment is periodically provided,for example, a few hours daily, a condition 'of atrophy and contracturemay be prevented.

In most cases articial support is needed for only one leg, the patienthaving normal muscular control over the other one.

In many cases, too, especially where the patient has partial muscularcontrol, it is desirable to have a device which permits maximum freedomof movement con sistent with support for the leg when the muscles arerelaxed.

It is also desirable to have a device which is so stable that randommovements of the patient will not dislodge it from the position mostbeneficial for the patients leg.

It is further desirable that the aligning device be of such a naturethat prolonged and repeated use will not bruise or otherwise beuncomfortable for the patient.

Occasionally a patient using the device may be incontinent. For thisreason it is of advantage for the device to be cleanable so thatcontaminants, i.e. urine and the like, may be easily removed withantiseptic.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a reversibledevice adapted to rest on a patients bed for supporting with minimumconstraint either leg of a patient.

lt is another object of the invention to provide a device or aligningthe leg ot a patient by providing an outer supporting frame terminatingabove the knee of a patient, an inner supporting frame terminating abovethe ankle and a foot plate disposed between the inner and outer framesupon which the foot may rest.

It is a further object to provide a device in which the frames compriseheavy metal rods and in which means are provided for securing the deviceto the bed so that it has a high degree of stability.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device in which theparts of the device with which the patient is likely to come intoContact are lined with sott cleanable pads.

The foregoing objects are achieved in the device described herein, whichis adapted to rest on a bed and which may be used to support either legof a patient. The device has a base frame which, when in use, isgenerally parallel to and near the foot of the bed. An inner frame isattached at one end to the base frame and extends transversely thereorFtoward the head of the bed and terminates at a point a few inches abovethe ankle of a patient. An outer frame is attached at one end to thebase 3,2@3Alb Patented Aug". 3l, i965 ICC frame at a point farther fromthe middle of the base frame than the inner frame. The outer frame alsoextends transversely of the base frame toward the head of the bed andterminates at a point a few inches above the knee of a patient. Each ofthe frames includes top and bottom horizontal rods. The top horizontalrods are coplanar and the bottom horizontal rods are coplanar. Thus,regardless of which side of the device`is down, it rests flatly on abed. Attached to the base frame and extending toward the foot of the bedthere may be one or more extensions extending transversely of the baseframe. Means are provided for securing these base frame extensions tothe bed. Thus the extensions and the sesuring means as well as theweight provided by the relatively heavy metal rods of which the framesare comprised provide a high degree of stability of the device. Disposedbetween the inner and outer frames is a foot plate. The foot plate maybe adjustably secured to the inner and outer fra .es at any of a seriesof predetermined locations along the inner and outer frames, thelocation selected depending upon the length of the patients leg. Each ofthe surfaces of the inner and outer frames and the foot plate with whicha patient is likely to come into contact is lined with cleanable pads.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from aconsideration of the following specification and claims, taken togetherwith the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE l shows a plan view of a leg aligner embodying my invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side elevation of the aligner of FIG. l with a portion ofthe lining of the inner and outer frames cut away;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the outer frame taken along lines3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 shows a cross-sectional view of the foot plate taken along line4 4 of FIGURE l.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention as shown in the drawingsthe base frame is generally indicated at l. The base frame comprises arnain portion 2, a first extension 3 and a second extension d. Mainportion 2 extends generally parallel to the foot of a bed (not shown)and is shorter than the width of the bed. Base frame extension 3 isattached at one end to one end of main portion 2 and base frameextension 4 is attached at one end to the other end of main portion 2.Extensions 3 and 4 extend transversely of main portion 2 and toward thefoot of the bed. Main portion 2 comprises a top horizontal rod 2a and abott-om horizontal rod 2b. Base frame extension 3 comprises a tophorizontal rod 3a and a bottom horizontal rod 3b. Base frame extension isimilarly comprises top `and bottom horizontal rods. Base frameextensions 3 and i terminate respectively in vertical post I nembers 5and e. Post member 5 has a iirst extension 5a which extends above thetop horizontal rod 3a and a second extension 5b which extends below thebottom` horizontal rod 3b. Similarly post member 6 has extensionsextending above and below the top and bottom horizontal rods of baseframe extension d (not Shown). These extensions of post members 5 and 6may be placed over the end of the mattress and thus inhibit longitudinaland rotational movement of the device. Vertical post members 5 and 6 maybe provided with rubber tubing covers respectively indicated at 7 and 8.Such rubber tubing acts as a bumper to soften any accidental contact.

An inner trame generally indicated at 9 extends transversely of and isattached at one end lltl to main portion 2 of the base trame. Note thatthe end l@ is offset from the middle of the base frame. Inner frame 9comprises a top horizontal rod Il and a bottom horizontal rod l2 andterminates in a vertical rod 9a a few inches above the ankle of apatient. Top horizontal rod 11 is provided with a series of `transversehorizontal holes generally indicated at 13. Bottom horizontal rod 12 isprovided with similar horizontal holes 14. Each horizontal hole 13, e.g.13a is in approximate vertical alignment with a corresponding horizontalhole 14, e.g. 14a. A rst frame strap 15 extends vertically from the tophorizontal rod 11 to the bottom ho-rizontal rod 12 near the vertical rod9a. Similarly a second frame strap 16 extends vertically between tophorizontal rod 11 and bottom horizontal rod 12 closer to the mainportion of the base frame. Attached to frame straps 15 and 16 is a firstwall member 45 (as seen in the cut away portion of FIG. 2). Wall member45 may be attached to frame straps 15 and 16 by any suitable means asfor example by screws 19. Inner frame 9 is also lined on both sides withcleanable pads 17 and 1S. Cleanable pads 17 and 18 may be secured towall member 45 by any suitable bonding agent. The pads 17 and 18 may bemade of polyurethane foam, or alternatively may be made of other foammaterials and covered with a cleanable sheet material, eg., a vinylplastic.

An outer frame generally indicated at 20 is disposed transversely of andattached at one end 21 to the main portion 2 of the base frame 1. Thepoint where end 21 of outer frame 20 is attached to main portion 2 isspaced farther from the middle 22 of main portion 2 than is the pointwhere end 19 of inner frame 9 is attached to the main portion 2. Outerframe 20 comprises a top horizontal rod 23 and a bottom horizontal rod24. Top horizontal rod 23 has a series of transverse horizontal holes25. Bottom horizontal rod 24 similarly has a series of horizontal holes(not shown). Each of the horizontal holes 25 in the top horizontal rod23 is in approximate vertical alignment with a hole in the bottomhorizontal rod, just as holes 13 and 14 of horizontal rods 11 and 12 ofinner frame 9 are in approximate vertical alignment. Each of the tophorizontal holes 2S of outer frame 20 is in horizontal alignment with acorresponding top horizontal hole of inner frame 9, e.g. 25a and 13a.Correspondingly each ofthe horizontal holes ofthe bottom hori- .Y

zontal rod 24 of outer frame Ztl is horizontally aligned with acorresponding horizontal hole 14 of the bottom horizontal rod 12 ofinner frame 9 (not shown).

Outer frame 2t) additionally comprises a frame strap 26 verticallydisposed and extending from the upper horizontal rod 23 to the lowerhorizontal rod 24. Similarly other vertically disposed frame straps maybe provided for the outer frame 20 with the actual number providedvarying according to the length of the frame and the strength ofstructure desired. Attached to the frame strap 26 is a wall member 27(as seen in the cut away portion of FIG. 2). Wall member 27 may beattached to frame strap 26 by suitable means such as screws 28 (see FIG.3). Outer frame 2t) is provided on its inner side (i.e., the side towardthe patient) with a lining of cleanable pad 29. Cleanable pad 29 may beattached to wall member 27 by any suitable bonding agent.

A foot plate generally indicated at 30 is vertically disposed betweenthe inner frame 9 and outer frame 20. The foot plate comprises analuminum plate portion 31 having rearwardly extending transverseextensions 32 and 33. Plate extension 32 is provided with horizontaltransverse holes 34 and 35 near the top and bottom, respectively, of theplate. Plate extension 33 is similarly provided with horizontaltransverse holes (not shown) in horizontal alignment with holes 34 and35. A cleanable pad 39 is attached to the side of the plate nearest thepatient by any suitable bonding agent.

The foot plate is held in a selected position by a top pin and a bottompin d1. Top pin 4t) passes through hole 13b of top horizontal rod 11 ofinner frame 9, hole 34, the hole in extension 33 in horizontal alignmentwith hole 34 and hole 251') of top horizontal rod 23 of outer frame 2t).Similarly bottom pin all passes through a hole 14 of 'bottom horizontalrod 12 of inner frame 9, hole 35,

l and holes in extensions 33 and bottom horizontal rod 2d in horizontalalignment with hole 35. When pins itl and 41 are so disposed, foot plate39 is securely held in vertical disposition.

As may readily be appreciated, foot plate 30 may be placed at any of aseries of locations corresponding to the locations of the horizontalholes in rods 11, 12, 23 and 24. Merely by withdrawing and reinsertingpin 4t) and 41 the foot plate may `be easily and securely repositioned.

Top horizontal rods 2a, 3a, 12 and 24 are coplanar. Bottom horizontalrods 2b, 3b, 11 and 23 are coplanar. Thus regardless of which side ofthe device is down, the device rests flatly on the bed.

According Ito the preferred embodiment of the invention, the rods 23,24, 11, 12, 2a, 2b, 3a and 3b are of steel and the lplate 31 is ofaluminum. Wall members 27 and 45 are preferably of plywood.

ylt has -been found that when the cleanable pads are made of properlytreated polyurethane foam, a comfortable cushion is provided and at thesame time is readily cleaned with an antiseptic or solution of alcohol.

In operation, the leg aligner as described above is placed on a patientsbed with extension of vertical posts 5 and 6 placed over the end of amattress. Suitable means such as a strap 42 may be used to secure theframe extensions to the mattress. The patients left leg (as the deviceis disposed in the drawings), may be placed within the aligner so thatthe patients foot is resting on the foot plate 3i?. Since the foot plateis vertically disposed at approximately a angle with the bed the heelcord is stretched. The knee is kept from rotating externally by outerframe 20. At the same time the foot is prevented from turning inward byinner frame 9. In this manner the leg is conned to an area in which itmay be comfortably disposed and properly aligned. The cleanable padsprovide a cushion to prevent bruising of the leg.

Any suitable means may be used to secure the leg aligner to the mattressand while a strap is shown in the drawings other means may be employed.For example, clamps may be attached to posts 5 and 6, each such clampcomprising means for extending under and gripping the mattress. Suchclamps may be adjustable so that the leg aligner may be clamped tomattresses of different thicknesses.

Should it be desirable to use the leg aligner on the right leg it ismerely necessary to turn the device over and, in as much as the pocketfor the leg is olic center, the device may be used on the right leg withthe same convenience as on the left leg.

While I have shown and described a preferred embodiment of my invention,other modiications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, and Itherefore intend my invention to be limited only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A reversible leg aligner comprising (a) a base frame adapted to reston a patients bed adjacent and parallel to the foot thereof;

(b) an inner frame having one end attached to the base frame, said innerframe disposed transversely of the base frame;

(c) an outer frame having one end attached to the base frame, said outerframe disposed transversely of the base frame and spaced from the innerframe;

(d) said outer frame being farther from the middle of the base framethan said inner frame;

(e) each of said frames having iirst and second parallel,

vertically spaced horizontally extending surfaces;

(f) said rst horizontally extending surfaces being coplanar and saidsecond horizontally extending surfaces being coplanar, whereby saidinner and outer frames may rest flatly on the bed on either said firstor second horizontally extending surfaces;

(g) a foot plate disposed between and generally transversely ofthe innerand outer frames, and

(h) means for selectively securing the foot plate to the inner and outerframes at predetermined locations along the frames,

(i) said inner frame, outer frame and foot plate deiining a confinedspace within which either leg of a patient may be placed.

2, A reversible leg aligner as defined in claim 1 in which the baseframe comprises (a) a main portion of predetermined length;

(b) at least one base frame extension extending transversely of the mainportion and away from the inner and outer frames;

(c) said base, inner and outer frames comprising rods of relativelyheavy metal, and

(d) means for securing the frame extension to a bed.

3. A reversible leg aligner as defined in claim 1 in which (a) the innerframe is adapted to extend only a short distance above the ankle of apatient when his foot rests against the foot plat-e in the coniinedspace, and

(b) the outer frame is adapted to extend only a short distance above theknee of a patient when his foot rests against the foot plate.

4. A reversible leg aligner as defined in claim 1 which additionallycomprises:

(a) cleanable pads lining the inner and outer frame.

5. A reversible leg aligner comprising:

(a) a base frame adapted to rest on a patients bed adjacent and parallelto the foot thereof, comprising;

(b) a main portion of predetermined length;

(c) at least one base frame extension extending transversely of the mainportion, and

(d) means for securing the frame to a bed;

(e) an inner frame having one end attached to the main portion of thebase frame, said inner frame being disposed tranversely of the mainportion of the base frame,

(f) an outer frame having one end attached to the main portion of thebase frame, said outer frame being disposed transversely of the baseframe and spaced from the inner frame,

(g) said outer frame being farther from the middle of the base framethan said inner frame;

(h) each of said frames having first and second parallel, verticallyspaced horizontally extending surfaces;

(i) said first horizontally extending surfaces being coplanar and saidsecond horizontally extending surfaces being coplanar whereby saidframes may rest flatly on the bed on either of said horizontallyextending surfaces;

(j) said base inner and outer frames comprising rods yof relativelyheavy metal;

(k) a foot plate disposed between and generally transversely of theinner and outer frames;

(l) means for selectively securing the foot plate to the inner and outerframes of predetermined locations along the frame;

(m) said inner and outer frames and foot plate deiining a conned spacewithin which either leg of a patient may be placed;

(n) said inner frame being adapted to extend only a short distance abovethe ankle of the patient when his foot rests against the foot plate inthe conlined space;

(o) said outer frame being adapted to extend only a short distance abovethe knee of the patient when his foot rests against the foot plate, and

(p) cleanable pads lining the inner and outer frames and foot plate.

6. A leg aligner comprising:

(a) a base frame adapted to rest on a patients bed adjacent and parallelto the foot thereof, comprising;

(b) a main portion of predetermined length;

(c) at least one base frame extension extending transversely of the mainportion, and

(d) means for securing the frame to a bed;

(e) a vertically disposed inner frame having one end attached to themain portion of the base frame, said inner frame extending transverselyof the main portion of the base frame and away from the base frameextension, and

(f) a vertically disposed outer frame having one end attached to themain portion of the base frame, said outer frame extending transverselyof the main portion of the base frame and spaced from the inner frameand away from the base frame extension,

(g) said outer frame being farther from the middle of the base framethan said inner frame.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 739,200 9/03Moore 128-85 2,492,920 12/ 49 Koster 12S-80 FOREIGN PATENTS 282,203 12/27 Great Britain. 475,589 11/ 3 7 Great Britain. 669,540 4/ 52 GreatBritain.

87,461 4/ 5 4 Denmark. 525,358 9/21 France. 206,145 10/00 Germany. 77,33 1 8/50 Norway.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner,

6. A LEG ALIGNER COMPRISING: (A) A BASE FRAME ADAPTED TO REST ON A PATIENT''S BED ADJACENT AND PARALLEL TO THE FOOT THEREOF, COMPRISING; (B) A MAIN PORTION OF PREDETERMINED LENGTH; (C) AT LEAST ONE BASE FRAME EXTENSION EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY OF THE MAIN PORTION, AND (D) MEANS FOR SECURING THE FRAME TO A BED; 